Trump’s delay at peace summit sparked rare, candid conversation among other leaders on postwar Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump’s late arrival at the summit he convened in Egypt gave his fellow leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, a chance to talk among themselves about the future of Gaza and the prospects for wider peace in the Middle East, according to a senior Canadian government official with knowledge of the talks.
Leaders from around the world gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to watch Trump sign a declaration along with the leaders of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt calling for enduring peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
But the president kept his fellow leaders waiting after his visit to Jerusalem and speech to the Israeli Knesset heralding "a new dawn for the Middle East" ran hours over schedule.
“They might not be there by the time I get there, but we’ll give it a shot,” Trump joked.
The official, who spoke on condition they not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the delay left Carney and the other leaders in the same room at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, spurring a rare ad hoc meeting that offerred leaders a chance to talk openly and candidly.
The official said the leaders talked about ways their various countries could help, with French President Emmanuel Macron discussing support for an international stabilization force for Gaza, a key part of Trump’s 20-point plan for the territory.
The source said Carney pushed on getting more aid quickly into Gaza, adding Canada has supplies ready to go.
There was also chatter about using existing programs to try to accelerate deliveries, including Operation Proteus, Canada’s contribution to the Office of the Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, they said.
Leaders pushed for immediate action on aidAccording to the official, there was a consensus around the idea that there must be immediate action on getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and that Palestinians in the territory needed to see a change on the ground in the short term.
The official said, unlike some international summits where there is talk of moving gradually on issues, this was an instance of world leaders coming together to divide how to do things urgently.
On the touchy subject of Trump and his often over-the-top language and mannerisms, the official says there is “a certain acclimatization” to Trump among leaders and a sense that he can say what he wants because he made the deal and summit happen.
There is also a sense among leaders, the official said, that they need the Americans because only Trump can get the Israelis to act. While Trump has taken a genuine interest in the Middle East peace process, one of the conversations among leaders was that they have to keep Trump engaged. The Canadian official called this “mission critical.”
Nearly three dozen countries, including from Europe and the Middle East, were represented at the international summit. Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday.
Following the meeting, Carney posted on social media that the event marks a “new and important chapter.”
“We are focused on next steps for peace and security in the Middle East, including ensuring that life-saving aid is delivered urgently,” Carney wrote.
The most recent war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.
In the two years since then, the Gaza Strip has been decimated and tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed.
About 90 per cent of Gaza's two million residents have been displaced.
cbc.ca
